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Userplane partners with network and cable companies to deliver enhanced social networking and messaging services

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userplane1.pngUserplane announced deals with network and cable television media partners to bring Userplane’s leading social networking and community applications to their online destinations.

New broadcast partners Channel 4 (UK), The CW, FUEL TV and IFC will be using Userplane customizable communication tools, such as Webchat, Minichat and Webmessenger to further develop their online communities and increase the reach of their global fan-base by giving viewers a new interactive way to enjoy their favorite shows.

“The integration of real time messaging applications allows media companies to create virtual water coolers where viewers can engage other fans of their favorite shows in real time,” said Michael Jones, CEO of Userplane and vice president of AOL. “Userplane’s suite of applications allows media companies to turn any Web site into content-centric social networks, fostering true interaction among fans of popular brands.”

Originally posted on November 27, 2007 @ 10:16 am

meebo launches games via third party developers

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meebo1.pngmeebo announced that more than 20 games are now available to meebo users through the recently-launched meebo Platform. The games have been contributed by third-party developers using the recently-launched meebo Platform APIs. The introduction of games from 3rd Sense, Absolutist, Clearspring Technologies, Come2Play, Gamebrew, MediaGreenhouse, Mochi Media, MyGraffitiWall, Jiggmin, Kongregate, PlayFirst, Presidio Studios, and ZeroCode exemplifies the kinds of multiuser and synchronous applications being built on the meebo Platform every day. Since the October 30th Platform launch, more than 200 developers have registered applications for the meebo Platform and are working to make meebo the live interaction destination on the web. Future categories of applications will include shopping, productivity and work applications, music and video entertainment.

The games launching today include Animal Puzzle, Artillery, Backgammon, Battle Pool, Blackjack, Checkers, Chess, Connect4, Go, Kongregate Racing, Match4, Music Man, Picture This!, Pirate War, Platform Racing, Reversi, Sheep Me, Sploder, Sudoku Wars, Tactics 100, Texas Hold ‘em, and World Travel Puzzle.

The meebo Platform gives third-party developers a hassle-free revenue stream to monetize their applications. meebo is securing premium revenue relationships and will run user-friendly ads while applications run. meebo will then share that revenue with third-party application developers. Alternatively, meebo offers third-party developers the ability to opt out of the revenue sharing arrangement and run their own ads on their application. These developers can present custom or integrated advertising to meebo users where their advertisers are more relevant, entertaining or useful. This approach is designed to optimize the user experience and provide independent developers with a revenue stream.

Originally posted on November 20, 2007 @ 11:15 am

TokBox adds video/voice calls to meebo

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new media newsTokBox, a communication service that enables people to talk over live video in a single click, has launched the first voice/video calling product on the meebo Platform.

It requires no registration, download, installation or configuration and is now seamlessly integrated into millions of meebo conversations.

According to Nielsen/NetRatings, meebo is the fastest-growing IM destination in the US – ahead of Google Talk and Skype. The addition of Tokbox is what meebo CEO and co-founder Seth Sternberg will bring them “one large step closer to becoming the Web’s live interaction destination.”

“TokBox is making communication much more personal, where we can easily see our family members, friends, co workers or new acquaintances – no matter where they are,” said Serge Faguet, CEO and co-founder of TokBox. “By merging the extreme simplicity of TokBox with the world’s most popular live platform, we are providing for the richest form of communication and messaging online today.”

Originally posted on October 30, 2007 @ 2:45 am

meebo ushers in next phase of IM with meebo Platform

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meebo.pngmeebo today announced the meebo Platform, a way to let developers integrate multi-user applications to connect users live with their friends. The first set of platform applications are web-based communication applications from Pudding Media, TalkShoe, TokBox and Ustream.TV, making voice chat, group voice calling, video and audio calling, and live broadcast available to meebo users.

meebo will also release additional third-party applications that will include social single-player and multi-player casual games, office and productivity applications, shopping and entertainment, and many, many more.

Developers can sign up for meebo Platform API access today at meebo.com/platform and participate in meebo’s public beta program. On November 27, the company will open its doors for an all-night dev camp for developers and potential partners. Additionally, meebo will offer virtual office hours to connect remote developers with the meebo team via video and audio calls.

Originally posted on October 30, 2007 @ 7:11 am

CircleUp launches new service on Facebook Platform

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circleup.jpgCircleUp, Inc., provider of social messaging for online and real world groups, announced that its flagship service is now a deeply integrated Facebook application that can be added to any Facebook user’s profile.

CircleUp is a free Internet messaging service that lets clubs, associations, Greeks, groups and teams ask questions and gather information, decisions, links, photos and feedback to get back a single, aggregated, visual result instead of a blizzard of messages. The CircleUp application for Facebook is designed specifically to enhance Facebook
groups and groups of friends, and it allows users to organize both offline and online activities.

With the addition of Facebook as a messaging and publishing channel, CircleUp is helping to define the new era of Email 2.0 where users can get the messages they need through the channels they want, and can manage the amount of information sent to any one channel to improve personal efficiency and reduce information overload.

Originally posted on September 28, 2007 @ 4:00 am